After the first – surprising – game 1, Trieste is once again guest of the Unieuro Arena for the second basketball battle in the space of forty-eight hours: Coach Antimo Martino has the task of finding the appropriate countermeasures to equalize the series. The Giulians know that, most likely, the shooting averages of the Forlì team will only improve, but they will be able to play with the serenity of those who have already been able to make a loud statement on away games.
I QUARTER
Triple by Reyes and “reverse” layup by Ruzzier: Trieste immediately wants to impose their game but Pascolo makes it 2/2 for -1 (5-4 for the guests). The form of the “little ones” in the halberd shirt is excellent and a few good assists are worth the +5 (9-4); Unieuro’s attacks are not characterized by great conviction, it is difficult to find corridors towards the iron and Valentini’s bomb responds with a precise Candussi: 17-9 for Trieste. Deangeli and Filloy then enter (for Reyes and Candussi) and Brooks stifles Cinciarini’s strong-willed but ineffective attempt to shake up the match with the torpedo to make it 23-12 (which forces Martino to time out). Statistical note: 4/7 from long range for the Giulians, 1/6 for the home team. The coach of the Romagna team risks and is punished: his protests give Trieste a coach but inflame the fans and Zampini leads a mini-comeback. Once again the quality level of refereeing is poor. After ten minutes the guests lead 24-18.
II QUARTER
With the crowd against them, Coach Christian’s quintet must remain calm, must not fall for provocations and must not give away space to the shooters in the white shirt (as unfortunately happens): Zampini scores the -3 basket (23-26). The Julian defense is less careful, Valentini can in fact shoot from the arc with meters of space and there is a need for a halberd leader on the parquet: in the middle of the half a third half from Cinciarini results in -1 for his team (28-29 ). Brooks (14 points) takes the responsibility of dragging his teammates along and the 3/3 in a row from long range is the best way to say “I’ll take care of it”: Trieste goes back ahead by 6 points (41-35); in these situations the Romagna players manage to exploit the painted area well (especially with Pascolo), the match becomes more intense and passionate and an attacking Forlì is silenced by an accelerated Trieste team: 48-41 for Ruzzier and co.
III QUARTER
Reyes and Brooks add two bombs in a series and after two minutes the Giulians lead 56-43, having also led Johnson to commit his third foul. The Puerto Rican makes pots and lids and reaches 15 personal signatures playing at a higher level and Unieuro finds itself with its back to the wall: Vildera, in the meantime, works a miracle by recovering the ball from Cinciarini, subsequently attracting Johnson’s fourth infringement. 60-46 for Trieste. Ruzzier and Brooks (21) catch their breath for a few seconds, the Romagna players try the all-court zone (as in game 1) and the quintet of Julian supporting players has a clear objective of keeping the +16 (63-47) still. After a nice triple from Candussi, here’s the “dirty” move from Cinciarini (his “head shots” are frequent), who gives a voluntary elbow to Ferrero: an extremely useless gesture because it favors the opponent’s +19 (68-49). In a fraction dominated by Reyes and an excellent one BrooksChristian’s Gladiators lead 72-57.
IV QUARTER
Zampini (23) is heroic, Radonjic harangues the fans and Christian expertly calls timeout after a minute at 72-60 for his team. Trieste isn’t finding the way to the basket, the inertia seems all in favor of Unieuro and in no time at all Valentini scores -8 (64-72); the referees drastically change the yardstick, favoring the home team’s comeback: Johnson still goes out for five fouls due to yet another disordered elbow. Reyes scores the first points of the half for him and the atmosphere on the parquet is very tense: Ruzzier bombs from the arc and penetrates for 79-66 (despite the cramps). Unieuro is understandably nervous, especially when a returning “Ruzz” coincides with another of their triples: Cinciarini is still a negative factor for the Romagna team and it’s time to manage the clock wisely. A wonderful assist from Ruzzier for Vildera makes it +15 (86-71) 2.13 from the final siren: Forlì tries everything but there is none and a great Trieste can return in the Gulf at 2-0.
Unieuro Forlì Vs Pall. Trieste 2004 76 – 91
Trieste: Bossi, Menalo, Ferrero 7, Vildera 10, Candussi 11, Camporeale, Ruzzier 20, Deangeli, Reyes 19, Filloy 3, Brooks 21. Coach Christian
Forlì: Cinciarini 7, Zilio, Munari, Borciu, Pollone 9, Magro 2, Pascolo 13, Johnson 6, Tassone, Zampini 25, Valentini 9, Radonjic 5. Coach Martino
Rajone
